Framework of a building

ABSTRACT

A building framework comprises a plurality of steel girders, steel columns, and steel connecting members for joining at least one girder with at least one column to form the building framework. Further provided is a plurality of substantially flat coupling elements, each having opening therein, wherein at least one column and at least one connecting member each terminate with at least one coupling element. The coupling elements substantially match each other and extend outward beyond the outer wall of the column and of the connecting member for providing attachment therebetween. The girders, columns and coupling elements are reinforced with concrete extending through the coupling elements via the openings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a building framework as well as to amethod for the construction of a building framework. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a steel-constructed framework of amulti-storied building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

High quality of prefabricated elements manufactured in a favorableproduction environment and especially their dimensional accuracy is oneof the most obvious benefits of a prefabricated steel framework. A steelframework requires first-class design work. The use of accurate buildingelements or components facilitates considerably erection of a buildingframework as well as the other outfitting of a framework. However, therelative market share of building frameworks that are completely made ofsteel is quite modest. This is due to a number of problems associatedwith framework systems intended for industrial production.

Swedish publication SE 7113103 discloses a structure for connecting aplurality of horizontal girders to a column for producing a buildingframework. The top portion of a column of a square cross-section isprovided with a square flange surrounding the column and holes forattachment. A horizontal girder of a U-shaped cross-section is placed ontop of the column so that the flange of the girder and one side of thesquare flange of the column will be in cooperation with each other. Theslabs are supported on top of the girders i.e., on the top edge of agirder. Thus, it is possible to place a total of four girders on top ofa column in parallel with each side of the square

This type of solution involves several problems. It is necessary toplace the horizontal girders on the edges of a column, which results inan asymmetric structure whenever the joint includes less than fourgirders. Thus, the load of the girders on a column will be eccentrictending to bend the column. Also the attachment moments of girders onthe support tend to distort the column. The girders in a joint do notcreate a functional unit but are each separately connected with asupporting column through the intermediary of a flange. Hence, eachgirder applies individually a load on that flange of a column to whichit is attached. When the number of girders is less than four, it isnecessary to employ separate spacers mounted on those sides of a columnflange having no horizontal girder. Neither is it possible to fill thecolumns with concrete, since the girders are detached from each other atthe junction points. Due to an irregular and asymmetric disposition ofthe girders, such a structure is suitable neither for the regularmodular network of a building framework, nor for the modulardimensioning of building elements.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,973 discloses a form assembly comprising sheetmetal, hollow, flanged corner joints which telescopically engage theadjoining ends of elongated sheet metal forms for girders and columns.The adjoining structural parts are slidingly fitted and affixed to thecorner joint by metal straps. After interconnection the forms are filledwith concrete to complete the framework of the building. The rigidityobtainable by the disclosed framework is insufficient for multi-storiedbuildings. Furthermore, the corner joints are not provided with planarcoupling elements. This greatly complicates the construction of theframework in the building site. It is important that the joiningsurfaces are flat allowing a heavy girder to be simply hoisted in placebetween two columns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a building framework which iswell adapted to prefabrication and which can be quickly erected. Anotherobject is to provide a building framework which primarily comprisesconventional, commonly available profiled steel elements.

A steel-constructed building framework of the invention is assembledfrom columns and girders. The columns have a height which essentiallycorresponds to the room height in a finished building. The columns areerected floor by floor and the girders are connected between thecolumns. The floor-by-floor erectable columns are advantageous for theerection of the rest of the framework and for the outfitting. Duringinstallation of girders and slabs there will be no obstacles impedingthe assembly work in the working space as is the case when using columnshaving a height of several stories. The columns are hollow buildingelements comprising prefabricated, standardized tubular parts. Thegirders are, for example, so-called Delta girders or HQ-girders fittedinside a slab assembly. A Delta girder includes a web and flanges oneither side thereof at the bottom edge of a girder and extending awayfrom the web in a substantially horizontal direction. The web includestwo web sections, which are provided with openings and set in a positioninclined towards each other and connected to each other by means of ahorizontal top section. The flanges are included in a girder bottomplate, extending beyond the web on either side thereof. The girderbottom plate can also be of a separate piece, in which case the flangesare integral with the web. In an HQ-girder, the web sections arevertical. According to the present invention, connecting members areused at the junction points of the building framework for joining thecolumns and girders to each other. The connecting members are box-shapedelements made of steel sheet. The columns, girders and connectingmembers are provided with coupling elements to enable the attachment ofbuilding elements to each other. All coupling elements to be fittedagainst each other in the framework are exactly compatible and the holesof fastening bolts will be precisely in alignment with each other. Thus,the pre-planned erection of the framework requires high dimensionalaccuracy of the parts. Hence, the entire framework shall retain itsstrictly designed dimensions which facilitates the use of prefabricatedbuilding and outfitting elements.

Various loading conditions on a building framework are taken intoaccount by selecting appropriate profile sizes, material thickness aswell as number of fastening bolts. Thus, the same framework can be usedin various buildings and in various loading conditions, only thedimensions of elements and material thickness will be changed. Acomposite structure is also possible. In this case, the columns, joiningelements and possibly even the girders are filled with concrete forincreasing the rigidity of a joint especially when fitting steelreinforcements in the cast concrete of a joint. The fire resistance of astructure will also improve. Even a highly diversified buildingframework can be assembled from the same simple basic elements. Thesimplicity and clearly defined features of a framework structure providean economical advantage. Another advantage is provided by the presentinvention when striving for the standard dimensioning of a product.

The structure is highly suitable for export purposes. The prefabricatedconnecting members and coupling elements of columns and girders arereadily transportable to a construction site by virtue of their lightweight and small size. On the other hand, columns and girders used inthe framework structure are commonly available and, thus, their supplyshall not be a problem under any circumstances. A building framework ofthe invention enables the use of known floor structures and facadesystems. A light-weight intermediate floor is beneficial for the systemand such a floor can also be readily disassembled. A building frameworkof the invention serves just as well as the framework for a residence asan industrial building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference madeto the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a building framework according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention, wherein a connecting member is provided at the end ofan HQ-girder,

FIG. 2 shows a building framework according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention, wherein a connecting member comprises amulti-branched element consisting of tubular girders,

FIG. 3 shows a building framework according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention, wherein a connecting member comprises an elementhaving a shape of a rectangular prism, and

FIG. 4 shows a connecting member of FIG. 3 fastened to columns andgirders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the first embodiment of the present invention as shown inFIG. 1, the building framework comprises columns 1 of a squarecross-section and HQ-girders 5. The height of column 1 is lower than thefloor height of a building by the height of girder 5. Therefore, columnheight corresponds to room height. Each end of column 1 is fitted with asquare-shaped coupling element 2 of a column, extending in asubstantially horizontal direction from the wall of column 1 and made ofsteel sheet. The coupling element 2 of a column is provided with acentral opening 3 for reinforcing the column and filling it withconcrete. The coupling element 2 of a column may just as well be a plateelement, covering the head of a column and provided with a flange and anopening. The coupling element 2 of a column is provided with necessaryfastening holes (not shown in FIG. 1) for fastening the column 1 withbolts to a connecting member 12 placed thereupon. In a correspondingfashion, a column 1' placed on top of connecting member 12 is fastenedwith bolts to connecting member 12.

As pointed out above, the girder 5 included in a building frameworkcomprises in the first embodiment a so-called HQ-girder. An HQ-girderincludes a web and flanges 10, extending in a substantially horizontaldirection away from the web on either side thereof along the bottom edgeof an HQ-girder. Flanges 10 form a part of the girder bottom plate andform one piece with the bottom plate. The web comprises two vertical websections connected to each other by means of a horizontal top plate. Thetop plate is provided with casting openings for filling the girder withconcrete.

The end of girder 5 is provided with a box-shaped connecting member 12so that part of the top plate of an HQ-girder has been removed andreplaced by a horizontal coupling element 13 on the top edge of girder 5serving as a footing for column 1' of the next floor. The horizontalcoupling element 13 of a connecting member 12 is also a square-shapedplate provided with a central opening 3. The coupling element 13 ofconnecting member 12 and the coupling element 2 of a column fitted atthe bottom end of column 1' to be placed thereupon match each other inshape, i.e. they are mutually congruent. Thus, the opening and fasteningholes included in coupling elements 2, 13 will exactly match together.The bottom coupling element of connecting member 12 is made of theHQ-girder bottom plate with necessary portions thereof cut away forconcrete casting. Even in this case it is compatible with the couplingelement 2 of the column below. If necessary, the concrete reinforcementsfor columns can be extended through the box-shaped connecting member 12continuously from one column to another and the column can be cast fullof concrete. On the side facing girder 5 the connecting member 12 isprovided with a wall 6, which is in flush with the wall of column 1,1'facing the girder and which prevents the casting from entering thegirder 5. Another possible solution is the one in which the girder 5 isfilled with concrete. In that case, the wall 6 of the connecting member12 is provided with necessary reinforcing and casting openings 7.

FIG. 1 illustrates one floor structure for use in connection with aframework of the present invention. The floor comprises twotrapezoidally bent steel sheets 19, 20, between which is fitted, forexample, a hard mineral wool panel 21. On top of the floor can be laid aconventional covering board and a floor coating. The floor is supportedon the HQ-girder flanges 10 and the floor structures extend all the wayto an external wall structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the girder 5 can also be connected to amulti-branched connecting member 22. The connecting member 22 isprovided with a vertical coupling element 16 of a connecting member. Thegirder 5 also has a vertical coupling element 9 which is compatible withthe coupling element 16 of the connecting member 22. The verticalcoupling element 16 of the connecting member 22 as well as the verticalcoupling element 9 of the girder 5 are square-shaped. The couplingelement 9 is mounted on the end of the girder 5. At the bottom edge ofthe girder 5 it fastens to an HQ-girder flange 10. The connecting member22 is also provided with a flange plate 17 matching the flanges 10 ofthe HQ-girder. The flanges extend continuously over the length of theentire girder system. The box of connecting member 22 may also have itsinterior fitted with vertical reinforcement plates or other additionalsupports in flush with the column walls.

FIG. 2 illustrates a number of different connecting members 22 for usein a building framework. The connecting member 22 includes at least onehorizontal coupling element 13 of a connecting member compatible with acoupling member 2 of a column and at least one vertical coupling element16 of a connecting member compatible with a vertical coupling element 9of a girder. In case the building framework only comprises verticallypositioned columns 1 and horizontally positioned girders 5, theconnecting member 22 will be provided with no more than two horizontalcoupling elements 13 of a connecting member and four vertical couplingelements 16 of a connecting member. Any intermediate configurationbetween the above extreme cases is possible for a connecting member. Itis natural that the girder systems may also form a relative angle whichis different from the right angle. In this case, the correspondingvertical coupling elements of a connecting member form the correspondingrelative angle with each other. In a similar fashion, the connectingmembers 12 can be used in frameworks, where the columns are notnecessarily vertical. In this case, if necessary, the "horizontal"coupling elements can be in an inclined position.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention,where the junction points of a building framework are provided withconnecting members 32 having a form of a rectangular prism in thisconnecting member 32, the sides of the prism serve as coupling elements13, 16. This embodiment is particularly preferred whenever the purposeis to cast the building elements full of concrete. The concretereinforcements to be included in cast concrete are led continuouslythrough connecting member 32. The junction point will be provided with ajoint, wherein the columns and girders are connected together at leastpartially in a flexurally rigid fashion.

According to FIG. 3, the end of square-shaped column 1 is provided witha rectangular coupling element 2, covering partially the column head andextending beyond the column walls. The opposite sides of couplingelement 2 form long flanged extensions and narrower flanged extensionson the sides facing the girders. An object of the narrow flangedextension is, during the erection of the framework, to receive the endportion of the girder 5 and, thus, to facilitate the erection of theframework. Hence, the flanged portion serves as a footing for the girderfacilitating the erection. During the installation of a girder saidcoupling element 9 of the a girder is placed on top of a the flangedportion. Thus, the coupling element 2 is larger than the correspondingcoupling element 13 of the connecting member 22 by the extent of thesenarrow flanged extensions. Thereafter, the attachment can be effected bymeans of bolt fastening. In FIG. 3, the girder comprises a so-calledDelta girder.

During the installation of an upper column 1', the erection process canbe facilitated by fastening the bolts to the coupling element 13 of aconnecting member 32, for example, by welding at the bolt head or byusing a separate base plate 27.

The coupling element 2 of a column is provided with a square-shapedcentral opening 3 for facilitating the filling of column 1 with concreteand the passage of a concrete reinforcement of the column through thejoint as well as with two circular openings 4, through which the castconcrete can be compacted and which are also used for leading throughthe joint some wires and tubes etc. included in a building. The couplingelement 2 of a column is also provided with openings 11 for fasteningbolts. The bottom end of column 1' is fitted with a correspondingcoupling element.

The connecting member 32 is used for fixing two girders 5, 5' to columns1, 1'. Thus, the connecting member 32 serves as a junction element atthe junction point between columns and girders. The ends of girders 5,5' are provided with a vertical, flat coupling element 9 which includesthree elliptically shaped openings 7 for leading through concretereinforcement for the girder and slabs as well as for concrete casting.The edge of coupling element 9 includes openings 11 for fastening bolts.

The connecting member 32 comprises two vertical and two horizontal sideplates. Both ends of connecting member 32 are open. In addition, theconnecting member 32 includes two vertical support plates 26, which arein alignment with the column flanks and fitted inside the connectingmember 32. The fact that the ends are open facilitates the fixing ofgirders 5, 5' to connecting member 32 as well as the filling of a jointwith cast concrete. The vertical side plates to the connecting member 32include vertical, elliptically shaped openings 7 for through-goingconcrete reinforcement and concrete casting. A corresponding opening 7is also included in the support plates 26 of the connecting member. Thehorizontal side plates of connecting member 32 is provided with acentral, square-shaped concrete reinforcing and casting gate 3 andcircular openings 4 on either side thereof for the compaction of castconcrete and vertical installations of wires and pipes. Holes 11 forfastening bolts are included in the edge portions of the side plates.

The intermediate floor of a building can be constructed by using, forexample, hollow slabs. During the installation, the ends of hollow slabsare supported on the girder flanges. The erection of a buildingframework proceeds as follows. The first floor columns are erected andcolumns and girders are secured together through the intermediary ofbox-shaped connecting members. This is followed by the installation ofhollow slabs. As soon as installation of the first floor hollow slabs iscompleted, the framework is filled with concrete. Casting can beperformed, for example, in two stages by first filling the columns withconcrete and followed by filling the hollow slab joints, the internalgirders of the slab assembly, and the connecting members with concrete.This is followed by the erection of the next floor columns. A face slabis cast thereafter or at some later stage during the construction work.It should be noted that during the casting operation the fastening boltswill be covered by the cast and, at the final stage, a face slab alsocovers those fastening bolts used in the erection of the columns of thenext floor.

When using a framework of the invention, there are always clear andunobstructed working conditions on the working level. In other words,there will be no columns several stories high to impede, for example,the installation of hollow slabs, since the building is constructed byusing columns having a height equal to the room height and the buildingis erected one level at a time. As soon as the cast concrete hasattained a sufficient strength, the erection of the next floor columnscan be commenced. In addition, the finished space located below aworking level serves as a storage during the course of constructionwork.

As pointed out above, in a building framework according to a thirdembodiment of the invention the columns 2 and girders 5 extendcontinuously through the building framework and the junction points haveflexural rigidity. Thus, the building framework provides an integral,functional unit, a cage structure whereby the overall stability of abuilding can be achieved entirely or at least partially by means of theframework. The column spaces in the direction of girders are about 4-8 mand the space between the main lines (girder lines) can be even 4-16meters, depending on the type of the slab assembly.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments but it can bemodified within the scope defined by the claims. In one practicalsolution, for example, just the bottom floor columns and girders of abuilding are filled with concrete. A building framework of the inventioncan also be constructed, for example, by using columns having a circularcross-section.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A building framework having interconnectinggirders and columns in which the intersection of a girder with a columnis joined by a connecting member shaped as an approximately rectangularparallelpiped, each said girder and each said column defining an inner,substantially enclosed, volume extending over its length,each saidconnecting member substantially matching each other in size and shapeand being substantially hollow for receiving concrete therein subsequentto its interconnection with one or more girders and one or more columnsfor conveying concrete into said inner volume of the adjoining one ormore inner volumes of the girders and columns affixed thereto, multiplesides of said connecting member defining at least one opening therein toenable multiple columns and at least one girder to terminate at eachsaid connecting member, wherein said multiple sides of said connectingmember are provided with coupling elements extending laterally beyondthe outer periphery of said sides of said connecting member, whichcoupling elements on free ends of at least some of said columns and saidgirders whereby said columns and girders may be interconnected with saidconnecting members and the interior volumes of said columns and girdersmay be at least partially filled with, and be reinforced by, theconcrete in said columns, girders, and connecting members.
 2. A buildingframework, comprising:a plurality of girders; a plurality of columns; aplurality of connecting members for joining each said girder with atleast one said column to form said building framework; and a pluralityof substantially flat coupling elements each having an opening therein,each said connecting member and each said column terminating with atleast one said flat coupling element, each said coupling elementextending laterally outwardly beyond the outer periphery of each saidrespective column, and said respective coupling element for providingattachment therebetween, whereby said girders, columns and couplingelements may be reinforced with concrete extending through said couplingelements via said openings, and wherein said connecting member is openat both ends and includes two vertical perforated support platesextending laterally outwardly beyond the outer periphery of saidconnecting member to be flush with a wall line of said column andextending parallel to said girder.
 3. The apparatus according to claim2, wherein each said girder terminates with at least said couplingelement for providing attachment between said girder and said connectingmember.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said connectingmember is formed at the end of said girder.
 5. The apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein said connecting member is shaped as a rectangularprism having horizontal and vertical sides forming said couplingelements.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said verticalsides include at least substantially elliptically shaped concretereinforcing and casting gate.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 5,wherein said horizontal sides include at least one substantiallysquare-shaped concrete reinforcing and casting gate.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein said horizontal sides further include asubstantially circular installation opening for piping.
 9. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein said coupling element further includes ahorizontal flanged portion for forming an extension of a horizontal sideface of said connecting member to serve as a footing for facilitatingthe installation of said girder.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said coupling elements include substantially horizontal flatflanges extending laterally beyond and around the outer periphery ofsaid sides of said connecting members.
 11. A building framework,comprising:steel-made girders; steel-made box-shaped columns; andsteel-made box-shaped connecting members for joining said columns andgirders together to form said building framework, wherein said columns,girders, and connecting members include substantially flat couplingelements having openings therein for joining one connecting member withat least one of said girders and columns, wherein said columns, girders,and connecting members are reinforced and filled with concrete such thatthe reinforcement extends through said one connecting member via saidopenings, wherein said one connecting member is shaped as a rectangularprism having horizontal and vertical sides form said coupling elements,and wherein said one connecting member is open at both ends and includestwo vertical perforated support plates placed in flush with the wallline of a column and extending parallel to a girder.
 12. A buildingframework, comprising:steel-made girders; steel-made box-shaped columns;and steel-made box-shaped connecting members for joining said columnsand girders together to form said building framework, wherein saidcolumns, girders, and connecting members include substantially flatcoupling elements having openings therein for joining one connectingmember with at least one of said girders and columns, wherein saidcolumns, girders, and connecting members are reinforced and filled withconcrete such that the reinforcement extends through said one connectingmember via said openings, wherein said one connecting member is shapedas a rectangular prism having horizontal and vertical sides form saidcoupling elements, wherein said vertical sides of said one connectingmember include three substantially vertical elliptically shaped concretereinforcing and casting gates, and wherein said one coupling elementfurther includes a horizontal flanged portion extending from said columnat said coupling element for forming an extension of a horizontal sideface of said connecting member to serve as a footing for facilitatingthe installation of said girder.